Inking mechanism for printing machines



.July 28, 1959 E. c. SAUERMAN INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1957 522.51 6. Saver: an, %.w%/%wr July 28, 1959 E. c. SAUERMAN 2,396,539

11mm; MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACl-IINES Filed May 6, 1957 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 7 2,896,539 INKING MECHANISM FOR. PRINTING. MACHINES Ernst ,C. Sauerman, Chicago, 11]., assignor to GaW- OHara Envelope (10., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application .May. 6, 1957, Serial No. 657,439.

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-366) The present invention relates to anovel ink feeding mechanism for supplying ink to printingmachines or presses.

In the presentnovel embodiment of inking mechanism, an ink receptacle is provided with a plurality of spaced ports or apertures for supplying controlled or metered quantities of ink to a ductor roll or other transfer means, and in this receptacle is provided means for continuously agitating and directing and feeding ink through one or more of the open ports during operation of said mechanlsm.

In conventional ink fountains now in general use employing a roller and a scraper blade for supplying ink to the roller over its entire length, frequent adjustment of the blade against or relative to the roller to control the ink supply is necessary. This adjustment along the length of the blade soon distorts the latter which in turn scores the roller. This not only results in damage to the scraper blade and; to-the roller, but also results in worn bearingsanda leaky fountain whereby frequent overhaul and-repair is required.

Ano bi g i n. to h P i r ype of cqnv ntion ink fo ain-is e fact ha rare int or s ba kin p t e guntain- This sr n y u qz hep n ng f rm a sumula nsrana ntw en nk s pp ed te he paper nd-ihianan lin Wmkinaba k me k o ler andspon F na Als whe h avy; ink or. ink of.

the inkinorrnally employed; in printing'presses con :sists of approximatelyfitl:to.7,0.%,,oils,and the remainder,

p ment-r, tarnish and: oth r. solids. r components, it is difiicult with; conventional; ink fountains, to maintain. the .soli ds in uniform, or proper suspension. While the opera- -.tor rn ay frequently Still 01' mix the contents of the founr itain in an endeavor to maintain the proper uniformity rand, consistency, the results, are not satisfactory.

: Among. the objectaofthe. present invention is the pro- Vision ofnovelrrneans and; mechanism for feeding ink .tothe rolls, of: a printing machine and: for continuously.

agitating andmilling the ink whereby to. maintain the components mixedandthe color in uniform suspension. Another; importantobjectof the present invention is the; provision. of a a simple and inexpensive ink feeding attachment; for printing machines consisting. of an ink re-,

'ceptacle, haying spaced apertures, means for accurately controllingthe. quantity; Of-iIlk fed through one or more of said apertures, andmeans for. continuously agitating and; directing. a controlled: quantity of inkthrough one or more of said apertures to a ductorroll or other transfer means for supplying the ink to the cylinder or printing pl eofia pr nt ng: or litho r p n press.

. Another ohjeet of the present invention is theprovision ink. eed n m eha sm n whi h t istributin 2,896,539 Patented July 28, 1959 2 film of ink over their entire surface even though but a limited number of the apertures are open for supplying ink.

' A: further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel inking mechanism for printing presses including an ink receptacle provided therein with one or more blades or members for continuously agitating and milling the ink during the printing operation, means for causing relative rotation between said receptacle and the blade. or member, andmeans on said blade or member fordischarging in timed relation accurately controlled quantities of the ink and feeding this ink to a ductor roll, vibrator roll or other distributing or form roll.

By means of the present inking mechanism, there is a reduction in the number of working parts required for the transmission of ink from the ink receptacleto the printing cylinder or printing plate of a printing press, as well as a reduction in the number ofdistributing or transf errolls required. Furthermore, there is no necessity for providing means for the return of unused portions of ink to; the ink receptacle, and maintenance cost has been reduced to a minimum due to the simplicity in c0nstruction: and design, andthe manner in which the parts may bequickly disassembled for access thereto.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel inking mechanism including a recepta cle having a plurality of spaced apertures for the passage of ink to the exterior of the receptacle, means in said receptacle for continuously agitating and milling the ink whereby to maintain the color and other components in constant suspension, and means for accurately controlling the quantity of ink discharged from one or more of said spa ced apertures. By means of the present novel ink feeding mechanism and its manner of operation, a cheaper sembly over prior inkingdevices is that theink from the print receptacle can be dispensed in but one direction and: is milled substantially finer than can be had with such prior inking devices. Furthermore, there is no opportunity for paper lint to be returned to the ink supplied from. the ink receptacle.

The present invention further provides a novel and simplified ink feeding, system for printing presses requiring. no pumps or other complicated and expensive pressure feeding systems. Furthermore, in the operation of the. present system there is a substantial saving in the quantity of ink required for each of the small apertures through which the ink is dispensed can be accurately con- .trolled and only a limited number of such apertures need be partially or fully opened during normal operation.

.Another important advantage is that the ink receptacle is enclosed. and thus unlike the usual ink fountains emcol ployed. in printing presses that are open at the top, there r is notendency for the ink components to separate even though the printing machine is shut down for relatively long-periods.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and-operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings: t

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of the novel inking mechanism of the present invention and ductor roll mounted in operative position upon a printing machine. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the novel'iriking mechanism of Fig. l.

s. are ass re of onstant anduniform Fig. 3. is an enlarged view in vertical cross section of the arrows and also showing in dotted outline a secnd blade.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the ink receptacle and showing several of the spaced controls or valved outlets for controlling the flow of ink from the receptacle and supplying it to a ductor roll or other transfer roll.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the blades.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical cross section through an alternate form of inking mechanism in which the receptacle rotates and the blade remains stationary, the view being taken in a plane represented by the line. 6-6 of Fig. 7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, part in vertical cross section taken longitudinally through the ink receptacle of Fig. 6, and part in front elevation of the ink receptacle and two of its control valves for controlling the passage of ink through spaced orifices or ports in the wall of the cylindrical ink receptacle.

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, the view being broken away to show more clearly one of the valved ports for controlling the discharge of the ink.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing in front elevation one of the valved ports for controlling the passage of the ink from the ink receptacle and the manner in which adjustment is made.

Referring more particularly to the embodiments selected to illustrate the present invention, in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the novel inking mechanism comprises an elongated ink receptacle 10 having a dished or rounded base 11 and side walls 12 and end walls 13, and a cover 14 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but removed in Figs. 3 and 4) providing a closure for the ink receptacle, the cover being hinged or removable for easy access to the receptacle and to supply ink thereto. At the front of the receptacle it is provided with a longitudinally extending projection 15 having a multiplicity of suitably spaced ports or apertures 16 therethrough for the passage and supply-of ink from the receptacle 10 to a ductor or other transfer roll 17.

To meter and limit the supply of ink to the ductor roll 17, each port or aperture 16 is preferably provided with a control valve 18 in the form of an adjustable and removable pin having a shank 19 extending through a bore communicating with an aperture 16, with the shank provided with a transverse opening 21 therethrough' disposed in alignment with its aperture 16. By rotating this valve member the operator may close passage through the aperture as shown in Fig. 3, or when the opening 21 a is rotated into full or partial registry with its aligned aperture 16, a desired quantity of ink may pass through the aperture and opening 21 to the outlet 22 of the aperture 16. Thus the flow of ink may be readily metered or controlled by the operator by means of a screw driver or other instrument inserted into the slot of the head 23 of the pin or valve member 18 and turned to locate the valve member in the desired position for the passage of a required flow of ink.

Extending longitudinally through the ink receptacle 10 is a rotatable shaft 24 upon which is mounted one or more blades or agitators 25 extending for substantially the length of the interior of the receptacle 10. Each blade or agitator is shown provided'with a chamfered or beveled surface 26 with the extreme edge 26 thereof projecting to closely adjacent the interior of the base 11 and the lower portion of the side walls 12' of the receptacle 10, a longitudinally extending depression or recess 27 conforming to the circumference of the shaft 24' and spaced transverse openings 28 therethrough for the reception of anchoring bolts or other attaching means 29 projecting through and anchoring the blade to the tacle whereby the ink to be dispensed is forceably ejected I or pumped thereby through the open apertures.

The shaft 24 is continuously rotated while feeding ink to a printing press or machine and carries along therewith one or more of these blades 25 for constantly milling, agitating and maintaining in suspension the components or ingredients of the ink 30 supplied to the receptacle 10. By this novel construction and arrangement the color, oils and other components of the ink are retained in proper suspension and optimum results are assured. As the blade rotates in but one direction as shown by the arrows in Fig. 3, the beveled or contoured surface and extended edge or end of the blade provides a converging space in which ink is entrapped and forced through the apertures 16 that are open and onto the ductor roll 17 or other transfer means moved or disposed in contiguous relation with the outlets 22 of the fully or partially open apertures 16.

To facilitate cleaning of the receptacle 10, the blade or blades 25 and the shaft '24, the latter is made sectional with the opposite end sections or stub shafts 31 each provided with a reduced end or male member 32 having a transverse slot 33, and the main shaft section 24 is provided with a bore in'its opposite ends and a transverse pin 34 extending across thebore adapted to a received in the .slot 33 for detachably connecting or clutching the adjacent ends of the stub shafts 31 to the main shaft section 24. Thus by withdrawing the end sections or stub shafts 31, the main shaft section 24 and its blade or blades 25 may be ltfted out of the ink receptacle for cleaning or for ready assembly, disassembly or replacement.

As shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the ductor roll 17 transfers ink to a vibrator roll 35, the latter being provided with a shaft 36 carried at its opposite ends in one arm 37 of a bell crank 38 pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 39. The other arm 41 of this bell crank carries a roller 42 maintained in contact with a cam face 43 On a'cam member 44 suitably pinned or keyed to a stub shaft 45, the stub shafts 39 and 45 being journalled in bearings in a support or side plate 46 -of the assembly. To maintain the roller 42 in continuous contact with the cam surface 43, the bell crank 38 is provided with a projection 47 to which is connected one end of a tension or coil spring 48, the other end of this coil spring being connected to a fixed pin and provided with a flanged gear or pinion 52 the hub of which is pinned or keyed to the shaft 36. In meshing engagement with the gear 52 and retained between the spaced flanges 53 of this gear, is a wobble gear 54 having a hub 55 pinned or keyed to the stub shaft 45 and driven by the gear 52. Also pinned or keyed to the stub shaft 45 is the hub of a sprocket 57 driving by means of a chain 58 a sprocket 59 having its hub loose upon the end shaft section 31 coupled to the shaft 24 in the man- .ner above-described. A clutch in the form of a collar 61 affixed to the shaftsection 31 is provided with an eccentric pin 62 adapted to be received in an eccentrically located opening in the sprocket 59 for clutching this sprocket to the shaft section 31 and thereby rotating the shaft 24 vand its blade orblades 25 in the ink receptacle As the stub shaft 45 is continuously rotated, the cam member 44 through contact of its cam face 43 with the cam roller 42 actuates the bell crank 38 to oscillate the ductor roll 17 into and out of contact or inking relation with the, outlets 22 of the spaced apertures 16 in the longitudinal projection 15' atthe front andexterior of the ink receptacle" wherebythe ductorroll obtains a supply of ink from one or more of the'apertures 16. Theinkcollected on the ductor roll ,17is; then' transferred to the vibrator roll 35* andfrom it by suitable rolls or transfer meansto the type of a printing machine. To limit the throw or path of movement of the bell crank" 38 and theductorroll-17, a -stop in the formof an adjustable set screw 63 threaded in a lug 64 on the support 46, is so' positioned as tobe engaged by a shoulder 65 on the projection 47 of the bell crank.

Each control valve or valve member 18 is preferably sealed" against leakage by providing its shank 19 with spaced O- ri-ngs 66 each disposed'inan annulargroove 67in the shank and having "wiping and sealing contact Withtheencompassingiinternal surface defining the bore in the projection onthe ink receptacle110. With an 'o ring disposed above and one below the transverse open: ing 21in the shank 19, no. ink may leak past these sealing rings 66 and these rings. have the added function of retaining the control valve members 18 in adjusted position.

In. Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, is disclosed an alternate construction of inking mechanism in which the ink receptacle 68 is of cylindrical form and adapted to be rotated with the shaft 69 and its agitating blade 71 remaining stationary. One end wall 72 of the receptacle completely encloses that end, while the other end is provided with a partial closure 73 that is affixed to the shaft 69 and. held against rotation. A retainer ring 74 locates this partial enclosure in the end of the receptacle, but permits rotation of the cylinder' 'about the shaft and the closure. 73.. Suitable, sealingpmeans prevents leakage. of the inkfromthe. latter endxof the receptacle. The partial closure.73-preferably.has .asegmentalopening f75zfor'supplyingink, for-viewing and-for ready access to the interior of the receptacle 68. However, this segment may be enclosed, if desired.

To retain the ink in the receptacle 68, this segmental opening 75 must remain at the upper end of the cylinder and consequently the partial closure 73 rernains stationary while the cylinder rotates about it, the shaft 69 and the agitating blade 71. In the cylindrical wall of the ink receptacle and spaced longitudinally thereof are a plurality of apertures or ports 76 opening into a larger bore in which is rotatably mounted a control valve or adjustable closure 77 having an eccentrically located passage 78 extending therethrough. Each control valve is provided with a slot 79 whereby it may be rotated and quickly adjusted to bring its passage 78 into full registry or partial registry with its port 76, or rotated to closed position, as shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9. A screw driver or other available instrument capable of being received in the slot 79 may be used in adjusting the control valves.

In this form of the invention a shaft 81 is shown aflixed to the end wall 72 of the ink receptacle 68 and rotates the latter at speed sufficient to eifectively'agitate and mill the contained ink.

The blade 71 is similar to that shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and attached in a like manner to the shaft 69. This blade is so located that when the cylindrical ink receptacle 68 in its rotation positions its apertures 76 in position for discharging ink to the ductor roll 17 or other transfer means, the ink is directed by the chamfered, beveled or contoured surface 82 of the blade 71 and forced by its depending or extending edge 82 into the apertures 76 and through any control valve or valves 77 that are opened for discharge.

As with the embodiment in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the ink may be fed from the spaced apertures to the ductor roll 17 or directly to the vibrator roll 35, with the roll to which the ink is fed being moved or disposed against or in close proximity to these apertures to receive the discharged ink. In t. the form ofFig's; 6169 inclusive, where thecylindrical ink receptacle rotates, the opposite ends thereof are preferably supported upon rollers 83 so spaced apart that the ductor or other distributing roll is free to move therebetween into positionjto receive the ink supply.

In the operation of the. present novelink. feeding mechanism of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the shaft 36 of the vibrator roll 35 is continuously rotated and through its gear 52, wobble gear 54, sprocket 57, chain 58 and sprocket wheel 59, when clutched to the shaft section 31 and shaft 24, rotates the blade 25 in timed relation with the oscillatory movement. of the ductor roll 17 or other distributing roll,;whereby the beveledor contoured surface 26 of the blade 25 and its. extended edge 26 forces ink into and through the apertures 16 that are retained open by adjustment of their controlvalves 18, and onto the surface ofthe ductor or distributing roll which has been located into inkingposition with the outlets 22 of the apertures.

Likewise in the embodiment of Figs. 6'to 9, inclusive, the cylindrical ink receptacle 68 is rotated in such timed relation with the movement of the ductor roll 17 or other distributing roll that the valved ports or apertures 76 of the receptacle 68 are so positioned with respect. to the blade 71 that the beveled or contoured surface 82 and its extended edge 82 of the blade forces ink through one or more apertures 76 and the aligned open passage or port 78 of the control valves 77 for inking the ductor or distributingroll. In this form, the shaft 81 maybe suitably driven from the shaft ofthe vibrator roll.

In both embodiments of the present invention the ink is agitated and milled and the chamfered or beveled surface and its extended edge of the agitator bladeis} so arranged that the ink is forced through the open ports as the projected edge of the blade movesthereover. (Figs. 1 to 5) or as the cylinder moves about orrelative to the blade (Figs. 6 to 9). As shown, the projected or extended edge of each blade extends into close proximity to the interior of the ink receptacle so as to direct and force or dischange the ink in timed relation as the blade and the ink receptacle rotate relative to each other.

The apertures or ports through which the ink is discharged can be quite small, excellent results having been obtained by making these apertures of'the order of approximately /8 inch or less in diameter. However, this is to be taken as but illustrative and not as limiting for the control valves may effectively meter and limit the quantity of ink discharged. Furthermore, while control valves are shown, they may be dispensed with in the event the apertures are made sufiiciently small or of the order of approximately inch or less in diameter. Those apertures not employed may then be blocked off or closed in any desired manner.

While the ductor roll is disclosed as moved in timed relation into engagement or close proximity to the outlet of the valved ports in the ink receptacle 10 or 68, it is found that with the present invention the usual ductor roll may be omitted and the vibrator roll may be so posi tioned as to receive the ink issuing from the open valved ports. This permits a reduction in the number of rolls required to supply ink to the type of the press.

Although the drawings disclose a blade provided with an inclined or beveled surface with the extended edge thereof projecting into close proximity to the inner surface of the ink receptacle whereby the ink entrapped or wedged between the lesser and greater radius of this inclined surface and the adjoining wall or inner surface of the ink receptacle is forcibly ejected through the open. apertures, this surface may be curved, or the agitator provided with a roller or a flexible lip which would function in a similar manner to converge and entrap a quantity of ink between it and the inner surface of the ink receptacle and force this ink through the open apertures.

By means of the present invention the amount of to be dispensed from any aperture can be accurately controlled and is dependent upon the size of such aperture, the chamfer or contour of the edge of the blade and the speed of rotation.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim: 1 1. Means for feeding ink to a ductor or other ink distributing roll of a printing press or the like, comprising apair of members one of which provides an elongated, stationary ink receptacle and the other an elongated, rotatable agitator mounted in and extending longitudinally of said receptacle, means for rotating said agitator, said receptacle having a longitudinal projection and apertures in and opening through the lower front wall of said receptacle and projection with said apertures disposed longitudinally of the receptacle and in spaced relation for supplying ink to said roll, control means for controlling the flow through said apertures, and means on said agitator for directing and discharging ink through the open apertures onto the roll.

- 2. An ink feeding mechanism for printing presses or the like comprising an elongated, stationary ink receptacle having a dished lower portion, a sectional shaft having a central part of substantially the length of said receptacle and end sections journalled for rotation in the ends of said receptacle, a blade carried by the central part of i said shaft and extending longitudinally of said receptacle with the edge of said blade projecting to adjacent the dished lower portion of said receptacle and extending for substantially the length thereof, said receptacle having multiple, longitudinally spaced apertures in the lower front portion thereof for the passage therethrough of ink, and the outer edge of said blade being so contoured as to direct and eject ink through the open apertures as the blade is rotated.

3. Means for feeding ink to a ductor or other ink distributing roll of a printing press or the like, comprising an elongated, stationary ink receptacle having a dished lower portion, a shaft journalled for rotation in the ends of said receptacle, 2. blade carried by said shaft and extending longitudinally of said receptacle with the edge of said blade projecting to adjacent the dished lower portion of said receptacle and extending for substantially the length thereof, said receptacle having multiple, longitudinally arranged and spaced apertures in the lower portion thereof for the passage therethrough of ink, and means for controlling the flow of ink through each of said apertures, said blade having its outer edge ch-anifered for entrapping andv directing a quantity of ink through the open apertures as this edge is moved thereover upon rotation of the blade.

4. An ink feeding attachment for a printing press or the like, comprising an elongated, stationary receptacle providing an ink reservoir having a rounded base, a shaft journalled for rotation in said receptacle, an elongated and imperforate blade mounted along one edge upon said shaft and with its other edge projecting into close proximity to and movable over the rounded base of said receptacle for agitating and milling the contained ink, means for rotating said shaft and blade, said receptacle having spaced apertures in a wall thereof for the passage therethrough of ink, and valve means for controlling the flow of ink through each of said apertures and adjustable between fully open and closed positions, the projecting edge of said blade being contoured in such manner as to entrap ink between it and the inner wall of said receptacle and direct and force said entrapped ink through the open apertures as the blade is moved thereover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

